AJAX MotionCam Wireless Motion Detector User Manual
- June 4, 2024
- ajax
Table of Contents
- AJAX MotionCam Wireless Motion Detector
- Functional Elements
- Operating Principle
- Pairing the Detector with the hub
- To connect the detector
- Statuses
- Settings
- Photo Verification of Alarms in Ajax apps
- Indication
- Functionality Testing
- Detector Placement
- Detector Installation
- Maintenance
- Technical Specifications
- Compliance with standards
- Warranty
- User Agreement
- References
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
AJAX MotionCam Wireless Motion Detector
MotionCam is a wireless motion detector with visual alarm verification for indoor use. It operates for up to 4 years on bundled batteries, detects movement at up to 12 meters, ignores animals, and recognizes a human move instantly. MotionCam works within Ajax security systems, connecting to a hub through the two secure radio protocols. The detector uses Jeweller to transmit alarms and events, and Wings to transmit photos. Wireless coverage may reach up to 1,700 m line-of-sight.
The detector is compatible only with Hub 2 or Hub 2 Plus. Connection to Hub, Hub Pius, ReX radio signal range extender, ocBridge Plus, and uartBridge integration modules is not supported.
The detector is configured via iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows-based Ajax apps Users are alerted of all alarms and events via push notifications, SMS, and calls (if enabled). The Ajax security system can be used for self-reliant monitoring or can be connected to a security company’s central monitoring station.
Buy MotionCam motion detector featuring visual alarm verification
Functional Elements
- LED indicator
- Motion detector lens
- Infrared illumination for shooting in the dark
- Camera
- SmartBracket mounting panel (the perforated part is necessary for tamper activation in case of an attempt to detach the detector from the surface)
- Tamper button
- Power button
- QR code
Operating Principle
The infrared sensor of MotionCam detects intrusion into the secured premises by identifying moving objects with a temperature close to that of the human body. The temperature compensation function makes the detector effective inside premises with temperatures ranging from 0 to +40°C. If placed and adjusted properly, MotionCam ignores pets. When movement is detected, the armed detector instantly transmits an alarm signal to the hub. The hub activates the connected sirens and notices the user and the security company. MotionCam uses Jeweller radio protocol to transmit alarms and events to the hub. The built-in MotionCam camera can take from 1 to 5 shots with a resolution of 320×240 and up to 3 shots with a resolution of 640×480 pixels. A series of photos is displayed in the app as an animation, so the user is able to evaluate the unfolding of the event over time. Photos are available both in Ajax apps and on the Central Monitoring Station software of the security company. MotionCam uses Wings radio protocol to transmit photos to the hub.
The detector features infrared illumination for shooting in the dark, which is activated only when triggered. Photo delivery time in the Ajax apps depends on the resolution and the speed of your internet connection. The table shows the delivery time for one photo at a signal strength of 2-3 divisions between the hub and MotionCam and the hub connected via Ethernet.
| Photo resolution | Delivery time |
|---|---|
| 160 × 120 | up to 7 s |
| 320 × 240 (default setting) | up to 9 s |
| 640 × 480 | up to 20 s |
At the same time, an alarm is transmitted within 0.15 s.
Pairing the Detector with the hub
Before you start pairing the detector
- Turn on the hub and check the Internet connection (via Ethernet cable and/or GSM network).
- Install the Ajax app on your smartphone. Create an account, add the hub to the app, and create at least one room.
- Check the status of the hub in the app to make sure it is disarmed and is not updating.
- Please note that only a user with admin permissions can add devices to the hub.
To connect the detector
- In the Ajax mobile app, tap Add Device.
- Name the device, scan or enter manually the QR code (placed on the back of the detector body or its packaging), select the room for placement.
- Click Add. The countdown will start.
- Turn on the device by holding its power button for 3 seconds. Please note that the hub connection request is only sent for a short time while switching on the device.
- For detection and pairing to occur, the device must be within a hub’s wireless coverage (at the same facility).
MotionCam turns off automatically within 6 seconds after activation if it fails to connect to the hub. There is no need to turn off the device to retry. If the device has already been paired with another hub, turn MotionCam off, and then follow the standard pairing procedure. After pairing, the detector will appear on the app’s hub device list. The frequency of the device status updates depends on the polling interval indicated in the hub’s settings (36 seconds by default).
Statuses
You can view MotionCam states in the detector menu.
- Ajax app → Devices – → MotionCam
| Parameter | Value |
|---|
Temperature
| Detector temperature. Measured on the processor and changes gradually
Jeweler Signal Strength
| The strength of the signal for transmitting alarms and events between the
hub and the detector
Battery Charge| The battery level of the device. Two states are available:
ОК
Battery discharged
| How battery charge is displayed in Ajax apps |
|---|
Lid
| The status of the detector’s tamper device that responds to the detachment and removal attempts.
Delay When Entering, sec
| Entry delay (alarm activation delay) is the time you have to disarm the security system after entering the room
What is the delay when entering
Delay When Leaving, sec
| Delay time when exiting. Delay when exiting (alarm activation delay) is the time you have to exit the room after arming the security system
What is the delay when leaving
Connection
| Connection status between the hub and the detector
Wings Signal Strength
| The strength of the signal for transmitting photos from the detector to the hub
Camera
| Connection status between the hub and the detector’s camera
Sensitivity| The sensitivity level of the motion detector
Always Active
| If active, the detector is always in the armed mode
Temporary Deactivation| Shows the status of the device’s temporary
deactivation function:
No — the device operates normally and transmits all events.
Lid only — the hub administrator has disabled notifications about triggering on the device body.
Entirely — the device is completely excluded from the system operation by the hub administrator. The device does not follow system commands and does not report alarms or other events.
| By a number of alarms — the device is automatically disabled when the
number of alarms is exceeded (specified in the settings for Devices Auto
Deactivation). The feature is configured in the Ajax PRO app.
---|---
Firmware| Detector firmware version
ID| Device ID
Settings
You can adjust the device parameters in the settings section:
- Ajax app → Devices – → MotionCam → Settings
| Settings | Value |
|---|---|
| First field | Detector name (editable) |
Room
| The virtual room to which the device can be assigned
Sensitivity
| MotionCam detector has three sensitivity levels:
High — for rooms with a minimum amount of obstacles; in this mode, the movement is detected as quickly as possible.
Normal — for rooms with potential obstacles: open windows, air conditioners, heaters, etc.
Low — for rooms with a high amount of obstacles; in this mode, the detector ignores animals weighing under 20 kg and up to 50 cm tall
Always Active
| In Always Active mode, the detector always registers motion. Regardless of
whether the system is armed, the detector will alert you about any motion.
Activate this mode if the detector is installed in a room that requires 24/7
monitoring.
Image resolution| MotionCam takes photos with the following resolutions:
| 160 × 120
320 × 240
640 × 480
The higher the resolution, the more detailed the image is, but it takes longer to transmit the photos to the hub
---|---
Send photo in case of alarm
| When triggered, the detector takes from 1 to 5 photos.
If the No photo option is selected, the detector does not activate the camera when triggered.
Alarms with photo verification
| MotionCam can take photos every time alarm is raised or only while first 1 to 10 activations. The limit is reset once the security system is disarmed
Delay When Entering, sec
| Selecting delay time when entering. Delay when entering (alarm activation delay) is the time you have to disarm the security system after entering the room
What is delay when entering
Delay When Leaving, sec
| Selecting the delay time when exiting. Delay when exiting (alarm activation delay) is the time you have to exit the room after arming the security system
What is delay when leaving
Delays in Night Mode
| Activation of the delay when Night mode is enabled
What is night mode
Arm in Night Mode| If active, the detector switches to the armed mode when night mode is enabled
What is night mode
Alarm LED indication
| Allows you to disable the flashing of the LED indicator during an alarm. Available for devices with firmware version 5.55.0.0 or higher
How to find the firmware version or the ID of the detector or device?
---|---
Alert with a siren if motion is detected
| If active, sirens added to the system are activated when motion is detected.
Jeweler Signal Strength Test
| Switches the detector to the Jeweller signal strength test mode. The test checks the signal strength between the hub and the detector and helps to determine the optimum installation place
What is Signal Strength Test
Wings Signal Strength Test
| Switches the detector to the Wings signal strength test mode. The test checks the signal strength between the hub and the detector, and helps to determine the optimum installation place
Detection Zone Test
| Switches the detector to the detection zone test mode. The test checks how the detector responds to motion and determines the optimum installation place
What is Detection Zone Test
Attenuation Test
| Switches the detector into the signal attenuation test mode
What is Attenuation Test
Temporary Deactivation| Allows the user to disconnect the device without removing it from the system.
Two options are available:
Entirely — the device will not execute system commands or participate in automation scenarios, and the system will ignore device alarms and other notifications
| Lid only — the system will ignore only notifications about the triggering of the device tamper button
Learn more about the temporary deactivation of devices
The system can also automatically disable devices when the set number of alarms is exceeded.
Learn more about auto deactivation of devices
---|---
User Guide| Opens the detector User Manual
Unpair Device
| Unpairs the detector, disconnects it from the hub and deletes its settings
Photo Verification of Alarms in Ajax apps
If the Send photo in case of alarm option is enabled in the MotionCam settings, detector alarms will be accompanied by photos or animations in Ajax apps. To view photos, click on the alert notification in the events feed.
- To save the photo, click on the appropriate button.
- A series of photos is displayed in the app as an animation, so the user is able to evaluate the unfolding of the event over time.
- Each frame of a series of photos can be saved individually. The entire series can be saved at once or MP4 video.
Features of alarm photo verification by MotionCam detectors
Indication
The MotionCam LED indicator may turn red or green, depending on the status of the device.
Indication when pressing the power button
| Event | Indication |
|---|---|
| Turning on | Lights up green while the device is turning on |
| Turning off | Lights up red, then flashes three times |
Active detector indication
| Event | Indication | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Connecting the detector to the hub | Lights up green for a few seconds |
Hardware error
| ****
Flashes red
| The detector needs to be repaired, please c ontactcontact Support Service
Alarm or tamper activation
| Lights up green for about 1 second|
Battery replacement needed
| ****
Slowly lights up/goes out green when an alarm is raised
| For battery replacement procedure, see Battery Replacement manual
Functionality Testing
Ajax security systems can run tests to verify the functionality of connected devices. The tests do not start immediately but within 36 s under default settings. The test start delay depends on the detector polling period settings (see Jeweller settings section in hub settings).
The tests are available in the detector settings menu (Ajax application → Devices – → MotionCam → Settings ):
- Jeweler Signal Strength Test
- Wings Signal Strength Test
- Detection Zone Test
- Attenuation Test
If any interference is detected or the signal strength is too low to transmit images, the user will receive a push notification “High interference at Wings frequencies”.
Detector Placement
The location of the detector directly affects the efficiency of the security system. The location of the MotionCam detector is determined by its distance from the hub and the presence of any obstacles between the devices hindering the radio signal transmission: walls, intermediate floors, or large-size objects located in the room.
- The device was developed only for indoor use.
Choosing a location to install, consider the orientation of the lens, the
viewing angles of the detector and the camera, and the presence of obstacles
that obstruct the view. It is recommended to aim the detector lens
perpendicular to the intended path of intrusion into the room. Make sure that
furniture, house plants, vases, and decorative or glass elements do not
obstruct the field of view of the detector.
Horizontal and vertical viewing angles of the detector
The detector does not detect movement behind the glass. Therefore, do not install it in locations where glass objects can obstruct its field of view. For example, in places where an open window can obstruct the field of view of the detector. Remember to check the signal strength at the installation site. If the signal strength is low (a single bar), we do not guarantee a stable operation of the security system!
If the detector has low signal strength, take whatever action is possible to improve the quality of communication! At a minimum, relocate the device: repositioning by even 20 cm can significantly improve the reception quality.
Detector Installation
Before installing the detector, make sure that you have chosen an appropriate location as indicated in this manual.
The recommended height of the installation is 2.4 m. If the detector is not installed at the recommended height, this will reduce the area of the motion detection zone and disrupt the operation of the pet immunity function.
Why motion detectors react to animals and how to avoid it
Use the SmartBracket mounting panel to mount the MotionCam detector on a
vertical surface or in a corner. SmartBracket has special recesses for fixing
it with the bundled screws.
To install the detector
- Attach the SmartBracket panel to the surface with bundled screws, using at least two fixing points. To make sure that the tamper reacts to an attempt to dismantle the device, fix the perforated corner of the SmartBracket:
- Double-sided adhesive tape should be used only for the temporary installation of the detector. The tape dries up over time, which may result in the falling of the detector and triggering of the security system. Moreover, the device may fail if hit.
- Attach the detector to the mounting panel. As soon the detector is fixed in SmartBracket, its LED blinks once to signal that the tamper on the detector has been triggered.
If the detector’s LED doesn’t light up after the device is attached to the SmartBracket, check the tamper status in the Ajax app and then check if it fits tightly onto the attachment panel.
Do not install the detector
- outdoors;
- facing the window to avoid exposing the detector lens to direct sunlight;
- opposite any objects with the rapidly changing temperature (e.g. opposite electric or gas heaters);
- opposite any moving objects with a temperature close to that of the human
- body (opposite swaying curtains above the heater);
- in places with fast air circulation (next to fans, open windows, or doors);
- near metal objects and mirrors that cause the attenuation or interfere with radio signals;
- inside rooms with temperature and humidity beyond the permissible limits;
- closer than 1 meter to a hub.
Maintenance
Check the operability of the detector on a regular basis. Clean the detector body from dust, cobwebs, and other contaminants as they emerge. Use a soft dry cloth] suitable for equipment care. Do not use substances that contain alcohol, acetone, gasoline or other active solvents to clean the detector. Wipe the lens very carefully — any scratches on the plastic may impair the detector sensitivity. The pre-installed battery ensures up to 4 years of autonomous operation. If the detector battery is nearly depleted, the security system will send a notification, and the LED will smoothly light up and go out when the detector detects any motion or if the tamper is activated.
What is the MotionCam battery life and what does affect it Battery Replacement?
Technical Specifications
| Sensitive element | PIR sensor |
|---|---|
| Motion detection range | Up to 12 m |
| Motion detector viewing angle (H/V) | 88.5°/80° |
| Time for motion detection | From 0.3 to 2 m/s |
| Image resolution | Up to 640 × 480 pixels |
| Number of photos taken when alarm is raised | Up to 5 photos/single alarm |
| Infrared illumination for shooting in the dark | Yes |
Pet immunity
| Weight up to 20 kg, height up to 50 cm
Why motion detectors react to animals and how to avoid it >
Tamper protection| Yes
Frequency band
| 868.0 – 868.6 MHz or 868.7 – 869.2 MHz,
depending on the sales region
| Compatibility | Operates only with H ub 2 and Hub 2 Plus |
|---|
CMS compatibility
| Motion alarms are transmitted to CMSs that support SIA (DC-09) and Contact ID protocols.
CMS software supporting visual alarms verification
Maximum RF output power| Up to 20 mW
Radio signal modulation| GFSK
Radio signal range (line-of-sight)
| Up to 1,700 m
Learn more
Power supply| 2 CR123A batteries, 3 V
Battery life| Up to 4 years
Installation| Indoors
Operating temperature range
| From 0°C to +40°C (manufacture date up to June 1, 2020)
From -10°C to +40°C (manufacture date from June 1, 2020)
How to find the manufacture date of a detector or device
Operating humidity| Up to 75%
Overall dimensions| 135 × 70 × 60 mm
Weight| 167 g
Service life| 10 years
Compliance with standards
Complete Set
- MotionCam
- SmartBracket mounting panel
- 2 CR123A batteries (pre-installed)
- Installation kit
- Quick Start Guide
Warranty
Warranty for the AJAX SYSTEMS MANUFACTURING Limited Liability Company products is valid for 2 years after the purchase and does not extend to the bundled battery. If the device does not function correctly, please contact the Support Service first. In half of the cases, technical issues can be solved remotely!
Warranty Obligations
User Agreement
Technical support:support@ajax.systems
References
- Why motion detectors react to animals and how to avoid it | Ajax Systems Blog
- Connecting Ajax to CMS
- End user agreement - Ajax Systems
- All Ajax security system devices and detectors
- MotionCam - Motion sensor with photo verification of alarms
- uartBridge — Module for Ajax devices integration with third-party wireless alarms systems
- What affects the quality of radio communication between Ajax devices
- Software | Ajax Systems
- Software | Ajax Systems
- Warranty - Ajax Systems
- How battery charge is displayed in Ajax apps | Ajax Systems Support
- What is Devices Auto Deactivation and how it works | Ajax Systems Support
- How to find out the device firmware version | Ajax Systems Support
- How to find out the the Ajax device production date | Ajax Systems Support
- Features of photo verification by MotionCam detectors | Ajax Systems Support
- How to deactivate a device without removing it from the system | Ajax Systems Support
- How to replace MotionCam detector batteries | Ajax Systems Support
- MotionCam battery life and what affects it | Ajax Systems Support
- What is Signal Attenuation Test | Ajax Systems Support
- What is Delay When Entering/Leaving | Ajax Systems Support
- What is Detection Zone Test | Ajax Systems Support
- What is Night Mode and how does it work | Ajax Systems Support
- What is Jeweller Signal Strength Test | Ajax Systems Support
- What is temperature compensation in motion detectors | Ajax Systems Support
- What is Wings Signal Strength Test? | Ajax Systems Support
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>